History

MnSTEP was initially funded by a Math and Science Partnership grant over three years from the state of Minnesota and was the first statewide, regional series of summer science workshops in content and teaching strategies. Over 900 teachers participated from summer 2007 to summer 2009. The initial phase of MnSTEP also included no-cost programs to earn your teaching license in high school physics (PhASE Project) and high school chemistry (ChemCAL).Unless additional funding becomes available, these two licensure programs will be discontinued once the current cohorts of teachers complete their programs in summer 2011.

In summer 2010, MnSTEP offered a selection of its acclaimed elementary science institutes in the Metro area.Because state and private funding were not available, teachers paid for the workshops and had the option of also purchasing and doing the additional coursework for two graduate credits.

MnSTEP is a statewide professional development program for teachers of science presented by Hamline University's School of Education through its Center for Global Environmental Education in partnership with university science departments, Minnesota school districts, MnSTA, MESTA, MGS, ACS-MN. Funding for PhASE and ChemCAL has been provided by the 3M Foundation.